This month, New Delhi suffered a sharp increase in air pollution, leaving its residents struggling to breathe. The World Health Organization said that New Delhi is the most polluted city in the world and, this month, it has only worsened, reported Quartz.
Warnings are typically given in moments of high pollution or smog to tell residents to stay inside. However, the situation is so severe that doctors have advised anyone with heart or lung disease to leave the city. Schools may also be closing until the smog clears, noted Quartz. The Delhi High Court said that living in the city feels like living in a gas chamber, reported the BBC.
The pollution reading in New Delhi has reached 500 units, the highest reading recordable on the Indian Pollution Control Board's scales, reported NDTV. This is 10 to 16 times higher than safe air quality levels. According to the U.S. Embassy's monitoring station, which uses a different scale, the air quality index is at 286, which is very unhealthy, said Quartz.
